Life with an XJ220

[Swampy1982]

OP - you may have already answered this but I am curious whether it happens with all cars, or just the cars I drive (considerable less inspiring ones!)

I lusted after certain cars all my life, from posters to the reality of buying it and running it.

Has there become a point that the car didn't meet your initial rose tinted expectations and you have considered getting rid?

I guess I am drawing on my experience of a mk1 golf, it was my dream car, I lusted after it, had posters of it, and eventually brought it.

For the first 6 months I loved every minute of it, found any excuse to drive it, and the car generally fulfilled my every expectation.

Then things started to go wrong, and I soon fell out of love with it, and I started noticing things that I hadn't noticed before that put me off it.

Does that ever happen with an XJ220? I'd like to think not...

[SpeckledJim]

Swampy1982 said:

OP - you may have already answered this but I am curious whether it happens with all cars, or just the cars I drive (considerable less inspiring ones!)

I lusted after certain cars all my life, from posters to the reality of buying it and running it.

Has there become a point that the car didn't meet your initial rose tinted expectations and you have considered getting rid?

I guess I am drawing on my experience of a mk1 golf, it was my dream car, I lusted after it, had posters of it, and eventually brought it.

For the first 6 months I loved every minute of it, found any excuse to drive it, and the car generally fulfilled my every expectation.

Then things started to go wrong, and I soon fell out of love with it, and I started noticing things that I hadn't noticed before that put me off it.

Does that ever happen with an XJ220? I'd like to think not...

I'd imagine there's loads of frustrations, but then you just look at it and your testicles do a somersault (just me?). The very same somersault they've done every single time you looked at one since you were a kid.

And then you'd forgive it absolutely anything.

[Swampy1982]

SpeckledJim said:

Swampy1982 said:

OP - you may have already answered this but I am curious whether it happens with all cars, or just the cars I drive (considerable less inspiring ones!)

I lusted after certain cars all my life, from posters to the reality of buying it and running it.

Has there become a point that the car didn't meet your initial rose tinted expectations and you have considered getting rid?

I guess I am drawing on my experience of a mk1 golf, it was my dream car, I lusted after it, had posters of it, and eventually brought it.

For the first 6 months I loved every minute of it, found any excuse to drive it, and the car generally fulfilled my every expectation.

Then things started to go wrong, and I soon fell out of love with it, and I started noticing things that I hadn't noticed before that put me off it.

Does that ever happen with an XJ220? I'd like to think not...

I'd imagine there's loads of frustrations, but then you just look at it and your testicles do a somersault (just me?). The very same somersault they've done every single time you looked at one since you were a kid.

And then you'd forgive it absolutely anything.

Thats exactly what I would like to think that you would do, just wonder if it is the reality... just planning for my immanent lotto win...

[antacid]

There's 5 cars that I've loved ever since I first laid eyes on them and the 220 is one of them! Loved reading this thread

[tanneman]

JatHanspal said:

Awesome motor, love the colour and the looks as well as all the modifications to make it a sharper tool. I love that you are not scared to do that, and not overly concerned with keeping it "original". Drive it and enjoy driving it!

I owned a racing green XJ220 a good few years back, it was a Le Mans spec one.

Here is a photo of it:

For sale

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/jaguar/xj220/...

[irish boy]

Superb car and superb thread.

Dad took me to see one in Charles Hurst Jaguar in Belfast when they were launched. Such presence. Pretty sure they just borrowed it as I don't know/ever heard of anyone over here having one.

I see at least one other owner on the thread....be great to here more from other owners too.

[RS_Phil]

Swampy1982 said:

OP - you may have already answered this but I am curious whether it happens with all cars, or just the cars I drive (considerable less inspiring ones!)

I lusted after certain cars all my life, from posters to the reality of buying it and running it.

Has there become a point that the car didn't meet your initial rose tinted expectations and you have considered getting rid?

I guess I am drawing on my experience of a mk1 golf, it was my dream car, I lusted after it, had posters of it, and eventually brought it.

For the first 6 months I loved every minute of it, found any excuse to drive it, and the car generally fulfilled my every expectation.

Then things started to go wrong, and I soon fell out of love with it, and I started noticing things that I hadn't noticed before that put me off it.

Does that ever happen with an XJ220? I'd like to think not...

Negative Wilson. That wont be happening.

[AshBurrows]

Hi Phil, big fan. Just wondering when we're going to see this burnout? People are starting to whisper.

[tanneman]

Spotted 22 Sept 2010, Pickering North Yorkshire. The only one I ever saw and still a beauty.

[Swampy1982]

RS_Phil said:

Negative Wilson. That wont be happening.

Really glad to hear it!

[RS_Phil]

Frances The Mute said:

Which did you choose, the Pirelli or the Bridgestones?

Bridgestone for sure. The tyre the car was developed on.

[ilovequo]

irish boy said:

Superb car and superb thread.

Dad took me to see one in Charles Hurst Jaguar in Belfast when they were launched. Such presence. Pretty sure they just borrowed it as I don't know/ever heard of anyone over here having one.

I see at least one other owner on the thread....be great to here more from other owners too.

Also taken to charles hurst to see theirs! That was the first time i ever seen/sat in a ferrari also!

[foxbody-87]

Kev_Mk3 said:

The hours I spent on that game

I can't see an XJ220 without thinking of the slap bass intro music!

Lovely car, definitely on my "Lottery Win" list...!

[Oldwolf]

I remember being blown away by these when they came out and then gradually for some reason fell out of love with them until....
Stood at the end of the pit straight at Goodwood maybe 10 years ago and heard a noise, I looked up and saw an XJ220 flowing towards me at huge speed. Normality was resumed, it looked like an animal in the Serengeti hunting it's prey :-)

Phil, thanks for sharing. Without gushing, car fans do appreciate it.

[InitialDave]

RS_Phil said:

Bridgestone for sure. The tyre the car was developed on.

Are those the new ones they've done for them, updated a bit?

[RS_Phil]

InitialDave said:

Are those the new ones they've done for them, updated a bit?

Yes, exactly that. Lots of work behind the scenes went on. Link to a documentary of the work done here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKWcZ3NJdw0

[InitialDave]

Mmm, I saw that. It impressed me that they put that much work into what can't be a particularly big earner for them.

[loudlashadjuster]

RS_Phil said:

Yes, exactly that. Lots of work behind the scenes went on. Link to a documentary of the work done here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKWcZ3NJdw0

Wow. Kudos to Bridgestone for doing that.

[lockhart flawse]

Great car OP. I think the shape has aged very well indeed and that these cars will go up a great deal in value in the coming years.

[familyguy1]

thanks for sharing that YT video, really enjoyed that.